Cloquet Man Pleads Not Guilty In Double Shooting

David Annette, 28, and Rachel Defoe, 25, were arrested in connection with the deaths of Kim Schmitz and Thomas Holm. (credit: Carlton County Sheriff's Office)

CARLTON, Minn. (AP) — A Cloquet man accused in the shooting deaths of a northeastern Minnesota couple this winter has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder.

A Duluth News Tribune report says 28-year-old David Joshua Annette entered the pleas Friday. His girlfriend is charged with aiding and abetting the crimes.

The couple is accused in the slayings of Kim Schmitz and Thomas Holm in the victims’ Cromwell home in January. Both victims were 53.

Annette’s defense attorney, Keith Shaw, told the judge he’ll challenge at trial the admissibility of statements his client gave to authorities. Shaw also says he’ll challenge the search warrants executed to gather evidence against his client.

Annette is charged with two counts each of premeditated first-degree murder and first-degree murder while attempting to commit first-degree burglary.